Simplify Your Life

Too Much Paper

Information Overload

Stress is often caused by information overload. Information may come in the form of:

notes to self

catalogs

magazines

newspapers

books

packets

email

appointment cards

telephone calls

handouts

voice mail

mail

memos

Bits of information lie about the home or office waiting for attention. Some will be recognized; others will be overlooked.

The overlooked ones will either cause extra stress in the long run or
never be missed. Those that will never be missed present unneeded stress
via their ability to loom over their owner waiting for undeserved attention.

Getting your information sources under control will help get you under control.

When Bill created the Windows
organizing system, he used the metaphor of the file cabinet and folders.
As the OS evolved, it included special folders that every user would need:

My Documents

My Recent Documents

My Pictures

My Music

Favorites

Control Panel

Then he buried some information that the computer needs, but that the
user does not often need to access. He put this information way down at the
bottom of the pile under W for Windows.

Once a computer user becomes familiar with the system and files things
as Bill intended, it becomes easier to find most documents. Of course, there
will always be those elusive few.

The file cabinet and folders works on your computer; let it work for you in your home or office.

The Right Equipment

Filing

While you can use plastic crates designed to store file folders or the cardboard boxes your books arrived in, file cabinets
that match your decor will be more pleasant to use. They will make you feel
better about your environment. They are worth the investment. Several vendors
sell easy-to-assemble furniture kits. Lateral and vertical styles are available
in many wood finishes to compliment any room of the house.

I keep a two-drawer lateral file in my bedroom. It is the same
style as my bedroom furniture and serves as a bedside table. Its surface
is large enough to accommodate tissues, lamp, phone, laptop and a book or
two. Inside, I store essential documents that do not need to be accessed
frequently:

owner's manuals

children's report cards

assembly instruction

birth certificates

receipts

warranties

I keep a second two-drawer lateral file in my den. The wood matches my
den nicely. It serves as an end table. Its surface holds a lamp phone/answering
machine and family photos. Frequently used documents are stored inside:
class lists, sports schedules, pending assignments.

My computer desks each have a two-drawer vertical file built in. They hold:

At the the front of each drawer is a file folder holding plastic tabs and paper inserts ready to be added as needed.

Use an oversized Rolodex for addresses, phone numbers and emails. You can staple business or appointment cards right to the cards.

One other very important file is my appointment file. This is
not a filing cabinet; it is a horizontal wooden box with 31 slots--one for
each day of the month. I put party invitations, appointment cards and memos
in the appropriate day, throwing them out or refiling as the date transpires.

An Aside On Photographs and Recipes

Photos and recipes are different from other bits of paper. Both are cherished in their own way. Both can be stored in boxes or books.
Photo storage boxes are made in many decorative patterns. While they may
seem like cheating, they are easy to use. It only takes a few seconds to
add new photos to the collection. For those with time on their hands, the
traditional photo album with today's archival papers are great.

Because archive quality storage in not needed for recipes, there are more
options for storing them. Whichever you choose, remember to pick an attractive
vessel that you will enjoy using for storage.

Looseleaf binder

Glue stick recipes to looseleaf paper or print them out on looseleaf. A three-hole-punch converts magazine pages to looseleaf.

Card file

While
card files have often been used for recipe storage, I find it awkward. This
method requires time-consuming transcribing of recipes onto cards. OK if
you have time on your hands.

Filing cabinet

If you have the space in your kitchen or close by, why not dedicate a drawer to recipes. Laminate the ones youuse often.

Presentation binder

Check
out the presentation aisle of your local business supply. You can slide
recipes under the plastic overlays multipage binders. These binders are available
with various numbers of pages. You might use one for cookies, one for entrees,
etc.

Photo boxes

They offer more room than card files, but still a little cramped.

What to discard

Just keep what you will need. When you open the mail, throw away
the envelopes. Throw away catalogs you won't order from. Throw away direct
mail offers you don't plan to take advantage of. Throw away.

Throw away the photos that are out of focus, make you or a loved
one look awful, or show someone's big pink finger. Give away the doubles
of good photos. Put them in an envelope and mail them off; you will make
someone's day brighter.

While you will probably want to hold onto nonfiction books like PSP manuals
or cookbooks, you don't need to keep every novel you ever read. Give them
to a library, hospital, nursing home or thrift shop.

If you have been stapling business and appointment cards into your
Rolodex, you can throw away appointment cards after each visit (or once they've
been entered in a calendar or Palm Pilot).

After filing the one or two items you may want to keep, throw away the magazine.